Obama, Boehner hold phone call on debt talks

President Obama and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) spoke by phone Wednesday afternoon amid a stalemate in the fiscal cliff negotiations, the Speaker's office said.

A Boehner spokesman would not give any further information on the call. On Monday, Boehner told reporters that he had not spoken to Obama since the previous Wednesday. Republicans are urging the White House to respond to its offer of $2.2 trillion in deficit reduction, including $800 billion in new tax revenues.

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The administration has said it would not make a counteroffer until Republicans agree to higher tax rates on the wealthy.